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Satureja thymbra
  • Thyme-Leaved Savory

a perennial woody member of the Satureja genus in the family Labiatae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Satureja thymbra has 0 edible uses listed
Satureja thymbra has 0 material uses listed
Satureja thymbra has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The leaves have a thyme-like flavour and are used as a seasoning for pulses, savoury breads, brine-cured olives, vegetables etc[1][2][3][4]. The leaves and young shoots are used as a tea substitute. It is said that this make one of the best-tasting of all herb teas[3].

Unknown part

Condiment
Tea

Material uses

A strong infusion of the herb is used in the autumn to clean wine barrels in preparation for the new vintage[3]. An essential oil is obtained from the plant, it contains 19% thymol[1] and is also rich in carvacrol[4]. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry[4]..

Unknown part

Cleanser
Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are antibacterial, aromatic, digestive, expectorant and tonic[5][4]. They are used internally to treat minor digestive discomfort and bronchial congestion[4]. The leaves are harvested during the growing season and can be used fresh or dried[4].

Unknown part

Antibacterial
Aromatic
Digestive
Expectorant
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in April in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination can be slow and erratic[6] but usually takes place within a month[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. It is usually possible to plant out into their permanent positions during the summer, but if the plants have not grown sufficiently, or if you live in an area of cold winters, it might be best to grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year[K].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm taken at a node, July/August in a frame. Pot up in autumn and overwinter in a frame, planting out in late spring or early summer of the following year. A high percentage usually succeed[7]. Cuttings of young wood, preferably with a heel, April/May in a frame[6][8]. Plant out in the summer if the plants grow well, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year[K].

Division in early spring as growth commences[7][9]. This works best if soil has been mounded up into the bottom 20cm of the plant early in the previous summer[7]. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established. Plant them out in the summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Satureja thymbra. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[9]. Plants are intolerant of soils that remain damp[9]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil[4].

This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, plants suffer damage at temperatures below freezing but they can be grown as annuals, flowering and setting seed in their first year[9]. Plants will be hardier in soils that are very well drained and also if the soil is a bit on the poor side[K]. A good bee plant[5].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Satureja thymbra. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Satureja thymbra.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Satureja thymbra
Genus
Satureja
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[5][4]
Material uses & Functions
[3][1][4]
Botanic
[11][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.4 x 0.4 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. (1970-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    8. ? Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    11. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)


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    Facts about "Satureja thymbra"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLabiatae +
    Belongs to genusSatureja +
    Has common nameThyme-Leaved Savory +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useSeasoning + and Tea +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useCleanser + and Essential +
    Has mature height0.4 +
    Has mature width0.4 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntibacterial +, Aromatic +, Digestive +, Expectorant + and Tonic +
    Has search namesatureja thymbra + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameSatureja thymbra +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +